This article explains how to correctly type Spanish accented letters and their punctuation using any device: computer, smartphone or tablet.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Using a Smartphone or Tablet
Step 1. Open the virtual keyboard of the device within the app where you need to enter the text in Spanish
The virtual keyboard of the device should automatically appear on the screen just by tapping the text field where you need to enter characters.
While there are tons of virtual keyboards available for Android and iOS devices, the steps described in this section of the article should work on any keyboard
Step 2. Press and hold the button corresponding to the letter you want to type with the accent
A context menu should appear containing all the options related to using accents.
- If you need to type an accented capital letter, first press the key that allows you to write in capital letters, then hold down the button corresponding to the letter to be entered.
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To type the correct symbols of Spanish punctuation (¿or ¡), press the 123 button or the button to switch to the keyboard that allows you to enter numbers and symbols, then press and hold the button corresponding to the question mark ?
or at the exclamation point !
Step 3. Slide your finger over the accented letter or symbol you want to type
The chosen font will be displayed within the active text field.
Method 2 of 5: Use the International American Keyboard Layout
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
This method of the article explains how to add the "American - International" keyboard layout in Windows 10 and how to use it to correctly type any accented character of the Spanish language using an Italian keyboard
Step 2. Click the Settings icon
It is displayed in the lower left corner of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Click on Date / Time and language
It is displayed in the center of the page that appeared.
Step 4. Click on the Region and language option
It is listed within the "Date / Time and Language" section of the left sidebar of the page.
If the "Region" and "Language" items are split into two separate tabs, click on the "Language" item before continuing
Step 5. Scroll through the list until you find your computer's default language, then click on the corresponding name
It is listed within the "Preferred Languages" section visible in the center of the right pane of the page. A series of additional buttons will appear within the selected language box.
For example, if the default system language is Italian and the keyboard layout you use is that of the Italian language, in the "Preferred languages" box you will find the words "Italian (Italy)"
Step 6. Click the Options button
It is displayed within the default language box.
Step 7. Scroll down the page and click the + Add Keyboard button
It is located within the "Keyboards" section. You will see a list of all of all available keyboard layouts.
Step 8. Click on the American - International option
This will add the "American - International" keyboard layout to the "Keyboards" section.
At this point you can close all the windows still open related to the Windows Settings app
Step 9. Start the program you want to use to write in Spanish
You can switch to using the keyboard with the "American - International" layout at any time from any program or application.
Step 10. Press the key combination ⊞ Win + Spacebar
Pressing the indicated keys will display the menu containing all the keyboard layouts installed in the system.
Depending on your computer settings, you can also change the keyboard layout by clicking on the icon of the language currently in use (for example ITA) displayed on the right side of the taskbar next to the system clock. Through the menu that will appear, you will be able to select the keyboard to use to enter text among those installed in the system.
Step 11. Select the ITA INTL option
To make your selection, release the spacebar (but still hold down the Windows key), then press the spacebar until the entry ITA INTL menu is not highlighted. At this point you can also release the Windows key.
If you have used the "ITA" language icon displayed on the taskbar next to the system clock, simply select the "ITA INTL" option
Step 12. Use the key combinations of the "American - International" keyboard to correctly type the accented letters of the Spanish alphabet
To perform this step you will have to press two keys: one to type the accent and the second to type the letter to use. Below you will find the list of key combinations to be used to type each letter (using the "American - International" layout with an Italian keyboard, to type the apostrophe you must press the "° / à / #" key while to type the quotation marks, press the key combination "Shift + ° / à / #"):
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TO or to:
'(apostrophe) + A or a.
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AND or And:
'+ "E" or "e".
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THE or the:
'+ "I" or "i".
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OR or or:
'+ "O" or "o".
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Ú or ú:
'+ "U" or "u".
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Ü or ü:
"(quotes) +" U "or" u ".
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Ñ or ñ:
alt = "" Gr + "N" or "n".
- Using the "American - International" keyboard layout you will not be able to type the apostrophe or question mark as you normally would. To do this, you need to press the appropriate key and then press the space bar.
Step 13. Use the "American - International" keyboard layout to type the Spanish language punctuation symbols (¿and ¡)
In this case, the procedure to follow is slightly different from that required to type accented letters correctly. Use the following key combinations (always referring to a standard Italian keyboard):
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¿:
alt = "" Gr + 1
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¡:
alt = "" Gr + -
Method 3 of 5: Using the Numeric Keypad on the Keyboard in Windows
Step 1. Locate the numeric keypad inside your keyboard
Most Windows computer keyboards have a numeric keypad, which in the case of a desktop computer is clearly visible on the right side of the input device, while in the case of more compact laptop computers it is integrated as the second function of a series of keys already present. Here's how to use the numeric keypad:
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If you are using a laptop that does not have a separate numeric keypad, carefully observe the keys located on the right side of the keyboard. You will notice the keys 7, 8, 9, U, I, O, J, K, L and M have a small number above or below the main letter or symbol that characterizes them. These are the keys that are part of the numeric keypad, which at this juncture has been integrated into the keyboard as a "second function" of some main keys. To activate the "second function" of these special keys, press the Num Lock key.
- When the "Num Lock" key is active, the keys indicated and marked with small numbers will act only as a numeric keypad and you can use them to type only the corresponding number.
- In some cases, in order to activate the "Num Lock" key, you must hold down the Fn function key.
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If you don't find the keys indicated, you can resort to using the Windows 10 on-screen keyboard. Follow these instructions to activate it:
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Select the "Start" menu icon
Windowsstart with the right mouse button and choose the option Windows PowerShell.
- Type the osk command in the window that appears and press the Enter key. A virtual keyboard without a numeric keypad will appear on the screen.
- Click on the Options button (it is displayed in the lower right part of the keyboard displayed on the screen).
- Select the "Enable Numeric Keypad" checkbox and click the button OK.
- Click on the Num Lock key of the keyboard displayed on the screen (it is located in the lower right part). You are now able to use the numeric keypad that appeared on the right side of the Windows virtual keyboard.
Type Spanish Accents Step 18 Step 2. Find the ASCII code to use in order to type accented letters of the Spanish alphabet
ASCII codes must be entered with the numeric keypad of the keyboard in order to function. Listed below are all the codes to be used to type the special characters of the Spanish alphabet:
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TO:
alt = "" + 0193;
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to:
alt = "" + 160;
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AND:
alt = "" + 0201;
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And:
alt = "" + 130;
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THE:
alt = "" + 0205;
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the:
alt = "" + 161;
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OR:
alt = "" + 0211;
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or:
alt = "" + 162;
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Ú:
alt = "" + 0218;
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ú:
alt = "" + 163;
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ü:
alt = "" + 129;
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Ñ:
alt = "" + 0209;
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ñ:
alt = "" + 164;
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¿:
alt = "" + 168;
- ¡: Alt + 173.
Type Spanish Accents Step 19 Step 3. Enter the ASCII code of the character you want to type
With the "Num Lock" key active (if you are using a keyboard without a numeric keypad), hold down the alt="Image" key while dialing the ASCII code of the character to be typed.
- For example if you want to type the letter And, you have to hold down the Alt key, press in sequence the keys 1, 3 and 0 (without holding them down) and finally release the Alt key.
- If you are using a keyboard without a numeric keypad, remember to disable the Num Lock key after you have finished entering the ASCII code.
Method 4 of 5: Using the Windows Character Map
Type Spanish Accents Step 20 Step 1. Launch the app or program where you need to enter the Spanish text
If you need to type punctuation symbols or accented letters of the Spanish alphabet, you can do it quickly and easily using the Windows "Character Map".
Type Spanish Accents Step 21 Step 2. Launch the "Character Map" app by following these instructions:
- Open the Windows search bar (if a search bar is not displayed on the right of the "Start" button, click on the circular icon visible in the same place on the taskbar to open it).
- Type in the keyword character map.
- Click on the icon Character map appeared in the list of results.
Type Spanish Accents Step 22 Step 3. Select the font type to use for typing text using the "Font" drop-down menu
This way you can be sure that you are using the same font that was used to create the rest of the document.
If you are entering text in an internet browser, email, image editor, or messaging app, you can skip this step. In these cases, the program's default font will be used automatically
Type Spanish Accents Step 23 Step 4. Click on the accented character you want to insert into the document
It will appear in the "Characters to Copy" text field located at the bottom of the "Character Map" window.
Type Spanish Accents Step 24 Step 5. Click the Copy button
The chosen font will be copied to the system clipboard.
Type Spanish Accents Step 25 Step 6. Click on the place in the document where you want to insert the chosen character and press the key combination Ctrl + V
The copied character will be pasted into the document.
Method 5 of 5: Using a Mac
Type Spanish Accents Step 26 Step 1. Launch the app or program where you need to enter the Spanish text
You can type accented letters and special symbols of the Spanish alphabet into any Mac program by simply using key combinations.
Type Spanish Accents Step 27 Step 2. Find the key combination for the character you want to type
You will need to use a key combination that includes the ⌥ Option key and a letter, then you will need to press the key of the letter you need to type accented. Below are all the key combinations you need to press to type all the accented letters you may need:
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TO or to:
⌥ Option + e, then press the "A" or "a" key.
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AND or And:
{⌥ Option + e, then press the "E" or "e" key.
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THE or the:
⌥ Option + e, then press the "I" or "i" key.
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OR or or:
⌥ Option + o, then press the "O" or "o" key.
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Ú or ú:
⌥ Option + u, then press the "U" or "u" key.
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Ü or ü:
⌥ Option + u, then press the "U" or "u" key.
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Ñ or ñ:
⌥ Option + n, then press the "N" or "n" key.
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¿:
⌥ Option + ⇧ Shift + ?.
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¡:
⌥ Option + 1.
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